If there’s one member of the Royal Family who knows how it feels to be disliked by the general public it is Queen Camilla. 

Indeed, for much of her time as a member of the family Camilla faced hostility from  Brits due to the notorious role she played in the breakdown of King Charles‘ marriage to Diana.

Now though the Queen Consort is a hard-working and much-loved member of the Firm.

Speaking about Camilla, in the latest episode of Palace Confidential, the Daily Mail’s Royal Editor Rebecca English revealed that the Queen can now look back at that period of her life with some amusement. 

During this week’s installment, the Mail’s royal experts answered viewers most pressing questions about the Royal Family in a special Q&A episode.

One viewer asked the panel about how shielded the royals are from gossip and stories featured in the press. In response to the question, Rebecca spoke about how different members of the Firm tackle the media.

Speaking about Camilla, Rebecca spoke about an ‘interesting anecdote’ the Queen Consort said that has also been used by Gary Goldsmith – the Princess of Wales’ uncle.

‘It was very illuminating. He [Gary] was talking about being at a palace function, I think probably in the run-up to the wedding and feeling slightly like a fish out of water,’ Rebecca said.

Camilla at the state opening of Parliament in 2024. Queen Camilla faced hostility from much of the population for many years due to the notorious role she played in the breakdown of King Charles ‘ marriage to Diana

Speaking about Camilla, the Daily Mail’s Royal Editor Rebecca English (pictured) spoke about an ‘interesting anecdote’ the Queen Consort spoke of that has also been used by Gary Goldsmith – the Princess of Wales’ uncle

‘Camilla, the then Duchess of Cornwall, came up to talk to him. And he kind of said words to the effect of “Well, I’m not sure you want to be seen talking to me because I’m the black sheep of the family”. 

‘She kind of smiled and laughed and went: “Oh don’t worry, so have I been over the years, you know, you just roll with, it’s fine.

‘”We’ll be kind of two black sheep together!”.’

Rebecca added: ‘I thought that showed her quite amusing reaction to someone who has definitely been on the receiving end of her fair share of brickbats over the years.’

Gary found himself at the centre of a press frenzy in July 2009 when The News Of The World printed a shocking photo of Kate’s uncle – Gary Goldsmith – seemingly preparing to snort cocaine on their front page.

Gary had unwittingly invited two journalists from the paper into his £5million villa in Ibiza where he also shared stories about Kate and Wills time at his home – dubiously named La Maison de Bang Bang – including a tale of how William broke his ornamental pyramids.

Meanwhile, Camilla’s status as the so-called black sheep of the family came about in the 1990s when she first became a household name. 

At the time she was seen as the usurper of the much-beloved Princess Diana which led the public to dislike her so much.

King Charles III and his wife Queen Camilla in May 2024. If there’s one member of the Royal Family who knows how it feels to be disliked by the general public it is Queen Camilla

Kate Middleton’s uncle Gary Goldsmith. Gary, like Camilla, understands what it is like to be the so-called ‘black sheep’ of the family 

Rebecca revealed that the Queen can now look back at her period as the ‘black sheep’ with some amusement

Journalist Tina Brown wrote: ‘And the press went after her with such viciousness. I mean, the really appalling sexist comments about Camilla – I mean, they used to call her, you know, old bag, old trout.’

She added that Camilla would sign her letters to Charles ‘your devoted old bag’, as she been been labelled as such so often.

Charles then launched a large-scale PR campaign with Mark Bolland at the helm. 

During the spin doctor’s reign in the late 1990s and early 2000s he performed something of a miracle, taking Charles’s own popularity rating from 20 per cent after Diana’s death to 75 per cent.

Bolland also orchestrated the media coverage of the prince’s first photographed public appearance with Camilla at the Ritz Hotel in January 1999 – dubbed ‘Operation Ritz’. 

Charles also faced the task of gathering support for Camilla from his family. 

Queen Elizabeth II was one such hurdle. She reportedly described Camilla as ‘that wicked woman’ on one occasion.

Her support for their marriage was crucial so that Charles was not removed from the line of succession.

Gary found himself at the centre of a press frenzy in July 2009 when The News Of The World printed a shocking photo of Kate’s uncle – Gary Goldsmith – seemingly preparing to snort cocaine on their front page

Camilla’s status as the so-called black sheep of the family came about in the 1990s when she first became a household name. At the time she was seen as the usurper of the much-beloved Princess Diana which led the public to dislike her so much

Panellists Richard Eden (left) and Rebecca English (centre) with host Jo Elvin (right)

By 2000, the Queen indicated her tacit approval of their relationship when she attended a lunch with the pair.

With the late Queen’s approval they married in 2005.

One issue that lingered over Camilla’s head was what would be her title upon Charles’ ascension to the throne. 

Palace guidance said she would only ever be known as ‘Princess Consort’ – until Queen Elizabeth II ended years of uncertainty over the issue by assuring Camilla’s future status in an historic Platinum Jubilee statement.

In her surprise announcement in February 2022, Her late Majesty declared it was her ‘sincere wish’ for her daughter-in-law to be fully acknowledged upon Charles becoming King. 

Since Charles became King, following the death of his mother in September 8 2022, the now Queen Camilla is one of the most prominent members of the Royal Family. 

And since she became Queen her popularity with the public has soared to a high of 55 per cent in September 2022. 

In the wake of Charles’s cancer diagnosis in February 2024, Camilla took on more engagements and has only seen her support grow.

Palace guidance said Camilla would only ever be known as ‘Princess Consort’ – until Queen Elizabeth II ended years of uncertainty over the issue by assuring Camilla’s future status 

And Queen Camilla is now an integral and accepted part of the Royal Family. 

Rebecca and the Mail’s Diary Editor Richard Eden also shared how other members of the Royal Family cope with gossip.

According to Rebecca, the late Queen would read the newspapers ‘by choice most days’ but when it came to gossip within the household she was ‘very attuned’ with her ‘ear to the ground on that’.

Meanwhile, Camilla’s husband King Charles III before he ascended to the throne would only read cuttings ‘carefully curated’ for him.

Harry on the other hand, would ‘read everything’ according to Rebecca.

‘Prince Harry did say to me once that he would read everything that was written about himself  even the supermarket magazines and the comments under the stories online.

‘He actually joked that I’ve got a notebook and I will make a note of whose written what story and I will take it up with them!’

For more fascinating insights from the Mail’s team of unrivalled experts, watch the latest episode of Palace Confidential in full now and subscribe to the Daily Mail Royals YouTube channel.